Hairy proof raeding!

Hi,

Looks like a cold snap coming up after a balmy autumn so far down here in the south. Not quite sure what the plants will make of it, it's likely to be a bit of a shock for some, although I suspect most of the shock will be to the crew outside who have been swanning around in shorts making the most of the warmth.

We are still slogging away potting the spring bulbs which seem to be taking forever, partly down to a flurry of orders this week and the 40% extra bulbs I bought in. I was feeling confident that sales next year will be buoyant! Not sure how long that will last, probably until the income dries up in a month or two and winter belt tightening takes a grip. Spring for us can start as early as mid January given some decent weather, so hopefully the winter blues won't last long.

Next seasons preparations continue with more tinkering of our young plant orders and pulling together our annual pot label order. I may have got slightly carried away with ordering a few more new varieties in 2024, with over 40 additions. This makes label ordering a tad more complicated, as all the new ones need labels designing and proof reading before the whole order can be cleared. With an attention span of a goldfish, proof reading is a challenge and I must admit the odd mistake can slip through, which I end up kicking myself for, every time I see that plant going through despatch.

I am certainly guilty of one huge labelling error, in that we still don't have the fact that we grow peat-free mentioned on the labels or on the wooden POS boards. This is a fairly major omission considering the coverage that growing peat-free has been getting over the last couple of years, and the amount of attention being grabbed by those now going down that route. It has been pointed out to me on multiple occasions that this is something we should be shouting about, along the lines of other nurseries sending out stock on trolleys plastered with plastic banners proclaiming their peat-free status. We have been using peat-free composts for over 10 years so we are probably reasonably justified in mentioning it, but we will be avoiding any shouty plastic use, to promote it (whatever happened to 'joined up thinking'?).

We are going to put the situation right this winter with a slightly revamped label design which will simply say 'peat free' on the front and a little message on the back. We will also be reprinting the wooden POS boards with the peat free message and will also mention our 100% plastic free marketing package (pot, boxes, labels & POS), which apparently is worth a quiet toot as well. All quite subtle, we wouldn't want to blow our trumpet too loudly.

Prices for 2024

The last couple of years have seen some explosive cost increases in the after affects of the pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We were forced to increase our prices by more than ever before, but still below the inflation level and definitely well below the rate at which our own costs have risen. Luckily we have improved efficiencies yet again, reduced waste and increased output which hopefully has made up the difference and kept margins workable. We are currently working through the financial results of this season to see how we have coped, so we can then make a judgement call on the prices for 2024. Labour remains by far our biggest cost and that is rising again significantly in the coming year, but we are hoping other costs are beginning to settle down again and not rising quite as quickly. There will be have to be a price rise at the end of the year, but hopefully not as big as last year, we will let you all know in couple of weeks, when our figures are ready. I know the HTA report on plant prices says price increases will result in fewer sales but absorbing costs is not a grower option here, there would be no point in growing anything as there is virtually no safety margin should something go slightly wrong and no reward for anyone for the hard work and commitment it takes to get our plants grown and distributed. 

Availability list.

Cyclamen coum pink and white forms are already on the list and showing the occasional bud. These will usually flower from October through until well into Spring, with a tasteful sprinkling of flowers rather than being drowned in them. There are already a few flowers on the Helleborus niger varieties so Santa can't be far away!

New varieties of H. orientalis for us are Halcyon Early Dark Red and Halcyon White Spotted which have both surprised us by showing a few buds already. Both are intended to be quicker flowering varieties, whereas some of the others can be a bit shy until their second season.

The ever-giving Erigeron karv. Stallone is available in bud again this week and should be around for ages as this is our big overwintering batch we are into now. If the weather is with us we often still have colour up to Christmas. Tiarella are looking healthy with plenty of flower.

Wooden box collections

If you have any of our wooden boxes ready to return and aren't expecting to order anytime soon, then please do drop us an email and let us know. Thanks.

Take care out there,  from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.